First baseman Angel Villalona, looking fit, reported to Giants camp today and answered questions for about 10 minutes this afternoon, but he declined to answer any questions about the 2009 shooting in the Dominican Republic that led to murder charges that ultimately were dismissed for lack of evidence.

“I’m not going to talk about that,” Villalona said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I just want to concentrate on baseball.”

Villalona, 22, was supposed to come to spring training last year but was denied a visa, ostensibly because he was so out of shape he did not qualify for an exemption to enter the country as a “world-class athlete.” He said since then he dropped 40 pounds, from 290 to 250. At another point he said he lost 50.

Villalona spoke as three members of the Giants’ media-relations staff (including Higueros) watched. Also there for support was minor-league instructor Jose Alguacil, who has worked with Villalona in the organization.

There are really two stories here.

The first is a baseball story. Villalona was a bonus baby signed for $2.1 million as a 16-year-old in hopes he could become a slugging first baseman, who now is trying to restore his career three years after he last played organized ball in the United States.

That cannot be divorced from the second story. In September, 2009, while assigned to Class A San Jose, Villalona got hurt. He was granted permission to go home to the Dominican Republic to see his mother. While there, he was arrested in the shooting death of a nightclub patron and charged with murder.

My Chronicle colleague, Kevin Fagan, visited the Dominican later that year and wrote this extensive story on the case.

Prosecutors were said to believe strongly in the case against Villalona, but he ultimately was released from custody for lack of evidence after he reportedly paid the victim’s family $139,000. In the Dominican, unlike the United States, that decision is considered an acquittal.

In a strange twist, Villalona supposedly sued the Giants for $5 million for breach of contract over some back pay he felt he deserved. The lawsuit was settled in 2011. Shortly thereafter, the Giants placed Villalona on the 40-man roster and invited him to spring training in 2012.

But he couldn’t get the visa.

Today, when I asked Villalona if he could say what happened that night in 2009, he said, “I’d rather not talk about it. I just want to concentrate on playing baseball.”

As a followup, I said that no matter what the truth is, people believe that he shot someone, and I asked if he was concerned about the reaction he would get from teammates and fans when he resumed playing. He gave almost the same answer, saying, “I just don’t want to talk about it. I want to concentrate on playing baseball and get back into baseball shape.”

When asked the reason for his lawsuit against the Giants, Villalona said, “I don’t know what happened there.”

Asked if he felt he needed to say something to teammates about everything that happened, he said, “Like what?”

Villalona was expansive only when discussing his return to baseball. After his visa was denied last year he played first base in the Dominican Summer League and then winter ball in the Dominican.

“I played very hard,” he said, “but I am aware that here it’s a totally different type of baseball. I know I have to work double because of the competition.”

Villalona said “I never doubted myself” when asked if he feared that his three years away from baseball in the United States would hamper his ability to rise to the majors.

“Just like the people here (in the Giants organization) have confidence in me, I did the same thing and tried to work,” he said. “I’m just thankful for a second opportunity.”

On Saturday, when the full squad works out for the first time, Villalona hopes to be one of the guys. He knows many in the room, including Pablo Sandoval, Ehire Adrianza and Francisco Peguero.

Manager Bruce Bochy wants Villalona to feel like one of the guys, too.

“I know it’s been a long journey for him,” Bochy said. “From what I’ve heard he really dedicated himself to coming back. We want to get ready for the season, and he is part of that.”

One technical note: Once Villalona reported, Major League Baseball formally removed him from the restricted list. While on that list he did not count against the 40-man roster. Now he does, and that roster is full.